With reference to other aspects of human experience, explore the claim that Natural Law theory is irrelevant. Justify your answer.
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erinruth99gmailcom (student)
With reference to other aspects of human experience, explore the claim that Natural Law theory is irrelevant. Justify your answer. [15]
Natural Law is becoming more irrelevant due to our secular culture. Natural Law depends on the belief that the world was designed by a creator, and that morality is absolute according to his standards. Aquinas assumes that all men must seek to worship God. What about an atheist? According to Thompson, if someone does not believe in God, then “the natural law theory loses its foundation.”
Furthermore, in today’s society natural law has largely been replaced by utilitarianism, the belief that our moral choices are less absolute and should be based on creating the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest amount of people. It has even been referred to as, “the ethics of the planet.” It is far less restrictive and many argue it is a superior philosophy to natural law. According to Peter Mullen, Working with Morality, it may be necessary, for example, to torture an innocent person to save the lives of thousands.